Speak the Truth, Minister!
Was Trade Minister Faiyaz Koya caught blatantly lying to a visiting trade delegation from Thailand earlier this week?
In a speech at the Thai promotion trade seminar on Monday, Mr. Koya, a lawyer by profession, uttered grossly misleading information about Fiji’s political and investment environment.
Here’s what he told the seminar according to a report in the Fiji Times (30/9/15): Claiming there was never a better time to invest in Fiji, he added … “We have a thriving democratic and politically stable environment, as well as respect for the rule of law, separation of powers, a free media, an independent judiciary, strong civil society, strong anti-corruption measures…”
Oh really Mr Koya; Let’s see:
#A thriving democratic and politically stable environment? You have obviously not read the United Nations Human Rights Council report on Fiji issued earlier this year. One of the key recommendations of the Council is for the setting up of a Constitution Review Commission to review the imposed 2013 constitution to make it more democratic so that it reflects the will and aspirations of the people of Fiji.
As for a #politically stable environment – some 70 people were recently charged and are facing court action re seditious activities. There is significant opposition to the FF Government which is being suppressed by restrictions on freedom of association, assembly and expression, including media restrictions. Opposition MPs are required to obtain Police permits to hold meetings in their constituencies but this does not apply to government MPs who campaign freely at taxpayer’s expense.
#Separation of powers and an independent judiciary? Another key recommendation of the UNHRC is to amend the legislative and constitutional framework to maintain separation of powers and cease any executive of political interference with the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession
A free #media? The regime’s draconian Media Industry Development Decree 2010 featured prominently among the decrees recommended to be scrapped or amended by the UNHRC. It said there was a need to end the intimidation and harassment of people who express criticism of the State, adding “…There is a need to change the climate of fear and self-censorship to ensure no one was arbitrarily arrested and detained for exercising their rights.”
#Strong anti-corruption measures? (a) We are still waiting for the FF regime to implement anti-corruption provisions in the Constitution ie establishment of a Transparency and Accountability Commission, a Code of Conduct for holders of high office and Freedom of Information legislation.
Independence of #FICAC is highly questionable. A substantive Commissioner has still not been appointed. A Deputy Commissioner, brought in from the RFMF since its inception in 2007, cannot be considered independent. FICAC has been under the oversight of the Attorney General’s office and has been very selective in its prosecution of cases. Reported instances of corruption against the regime, including the PM’s office, are ignored by FICAC.
The trading relationship between Fiji and Thailand is so highly imbalanced in Thailand’s favour, that one wonders why the Minister raved on about opportunities for our business people.
The $144.3m trade between the two countries last year as reported in today’s Fiji Times was grossly in favour of Thailand by way of export to Fiji of motor vehicles, machinery, a wide range of food products, textiles etc.
We on the other hand are not in a position to sell much to Thailand because they produce almost everything we have to sell. Such being the case, one wonders whether the Minister could be taken seriously for his statement that: “Thai and Fijian businesses were set to explore a plethora of opportunities between the two countries”.
#What a tamasha, Faiyaz!
Was Trade Minister Faiyaz Koya caught blatantly lying to a visiting trade delegation from Thailand earlier this week?
In a speech at the Thai promotion trade seminar on Monday, Mr. Koya, a lawyer by profession, uttered grossly misleading information about Fiji’s political and investment environment.
Here’s what he told the seminar according to a report in the Fiji Times (30/9/15): Claiming there was never a better time to invest in Fiji, he added … “We have a thriving democratic and politically stable environment, as well as respect for the rule of law, separation of powers, a free media, an independent judiciary, strong civil society, strong anti-corruption measures…”
Oh really Mr Koya; Let’s see:
#A thriving democratic and politically stable environment? You have obviously not read the United Nations Human Rights Council report on Fiji issued earlier this year. One of the key recommendations of the Council is for the setting up of a Constitution Review Commission to review the imposed 2013 constitution to make it more democratic so that it reflects the will and aspirations of the people of Fiji.
As for a #politically stable environment – some 70 people were recently charged and are facing court action re seditious activities. There is significant opposition to the FF Government which is being suppressed by restrictions on freedom of association, assembly and expression, including media restrictions. Opposition MPs are required to obtain Police permits to hold meetings in their constituencies but this does not apply to government MPs who campaign freely at taxpayer’s expense.
#Separation of powers and an independent judiciary? Another key recommendation of the UNHRC is to amend the legislative and constitutional framework to maintain separation of powers and cease any executive of political interference with the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession
A free #media? The regime’s draconian Media Industry Development Decree 2010 featured prominently among the decrees recommended to be scrapped or amended by the UNHRC. It said there was a need to end the intimidation and harassment of people who express criticism of the State, adding “…There is a need to change the climate of fear and self-censorship to ensure no one was arbitrarily arrested and detained for exercising their rights.”
#Strong anti-corruption measures? (a) We are still waiting for the FF regime to implement anti-corruption provisions in the Constitution ie establishment of a Transparency and Accountability Commission, a Code of Conduct for holders of high office and Freedom of Information legislation.
Independence of #FICAC is highly questionable. A substantive Commissioner has still not been appointed. A Deputy Commissioner, brought in from the RFMF since its inception in 2007, cannot be considered independent. FICAC has been under the oversight of the Attorney General’s office and has been very selective in its prosecution of cases. Reported instances of corruption against the regime, including the PM’s office, are ignored by FICAC.
The trading relationship between Fiji and Thailand is so highly imbalanced in Thailand’s favour, that one wonders why the Minister raved on about opportunities for our business people.
The $144.3m trade between the two countries last year as reported in today’s Fiji Times was grossly in favour of Thailand by way of export to Fiji of motor vehicles, machinery, a wide range of food products, textiles etc.
We on the other hand are not in a position to sell much to Thailand because they produce almost everything we have to sell. Such being the case, one wonders whether the Minister could be taken seriously for his statement that: “Thai and Fijian businesses were set to explore a plethora of opportunities between the two countries”.
#What a tamasha, Faiyaz!
